The scale and ferocity of post-war violence regularly confounds the expectations of security and development specialists. When left unchecked, mutating violence can tip ‘fragile’ societies back into all out warfare. In the context of formal peace support operations, conventional security promotion efforts are routinely advanced to prevent this from happening. These include ...» more
Library
This e-library contains more than 4500 external publications on governance, social development, conflict and humanitarian issues. It includes academic and grey literature selected for its basis in good quality research and coverage of a range of perspectives. Policy-oriented summaries of each document are provided, plus links to the full text.
Human Rights Commissions in Africa – Lessons and challenges
National human rights institutions are institutions which, although established by the State, are supposed to be independent of it. Currently, about 31 countries in Africa have established such institutions. This chapter studies three human rights institutions, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), and the Commission on ...» more
Integrating gender responsive budgeting into the aid effectiveness agenda
These research reports (1 composite report and 10 country reports) have been generated as part of the UNIFEM programme, “Integrating gender responsive budgeting into the aid effectiveness agenda”. The three-year programme funded by the European Commission (EC) was launched in 2008 and consists of research and programmatic technical assistance.The investigation was intended to ...» more
Ready or not? Exploring the Prospects for Collecting Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons in Kosovo
When is the right time to begin collection of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in Kosovo? This study examines attitudes towards SALW in Kosovo and identifies lessons learned for conducting a weapons amnesty and collection. Such a collection would not currently yield significant positive results in Kosovo at as a number of preconditions are not yet in place. SALW collection ...» more
State Discourses, Police Violence and Democratisation in Argentina
Do government statements affect the institutionalisation of democratic policing practices? This article examines newspaper coverage of three major incidents of police violence in Argentina, finding that state actors adopt differing positions towards this use of force in their reported public statements. Government officials oscillate between denying the occurrence of police ...» more
Public Security Reforms and Human Rights in Jamaica
What progress has been made in improving public security in Jamaica and upholding human rights? How can the remaining challenges be addressed? This report identifies key security concerns as: state failure to provide protection; killings by police; and lack of police accountability. The government has embarked on reform processes reform that, if correctly and fully implemented, ...» more
Political Dimensions of Security Transformation in Latin America
Transforming the security sector in Latin America has been one of the most challenging tasks following democratisation in the region. What has impeded the progress of citizens' rights and institutional democratic reform? This article discusses the complex and intertwined political conditions that surround military and police institutional reform, concluding that progress must ...» more
Gangs, Urban Violence, and Security Interventions in Central America
What is the nature of Central American gang violence and have attempts to reduce it been successful? Urban violence is a major preoccupation of policymakers, planners and development practitioners, but it is a complex phenomenon. This article argues that repressive first-generation approaches have tended to radicalise gangs and push them towards organised crime. Meanwhile, ...» more
Defence Organisation and Civil-Military Relations in Latin America
To what extent do civilians maintain institutional control over armed forces in Latin America? This research examines the organisation of defence institutions in sixteen Latin American countries and its implications for civil-military relations. Most countries of the region have not achieved the ideal-typical model for maximising civilian control, although some come close. ...» more
Testing Perceived Wisdom: Perceptions of Security in Southern Lebanon
In the wake of the 2006 war, to whom do the people of Southern Lebanon look for security? What are their views on arms control, including the regulation of non-state armed groups? This chapter presents the results of a 2008 household survey that explored such questions. The findings challenge assumptions about the popularity of non-state armed groups, including Hizbollah (and ...» more
The Lebanese Armed Forces: Challenges and Opportunities in Post-Syria Lebanon
How can Lebanon and its foreign allies strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) both as a local institution and as a stabilising force in the Middle East? This study argues that provision of funding and new equipment is urgently needed. Competing political actors within Lebanon must end their attempts to control or re-orient the LAF, and the LAF should communicate its ...» more
Security Sector Reform in Lebanon: Internal Security Forces and General Security
What are the challenges of security sector reform in Lebanon? This paper argues that the main flaws in the Lebanese security apparatus concern: 1) financial and administrative corruption; 2) inadequate staff development; 3) insufficient and unsuitable equipment; 4) rivalry and lack of coordination; and 5) outdated regulations and organisation. Reform will need to include the ...» more
The South African Intelligence Services: A Historical Perspective
How has history shaped the South African intelligence services? This chapter evaluates the governance of the South African intelligence services over the past century and reflects on the interests that have been served. It finds that while the gains of the post-apartheid period have been significant, there is still room for much improvement in performance and accountability. ...» more
The Security Sector in Arab Countries: Can it be Reformed?
Can security sector reform (SSR) in Arab countries take place as part of a gradual opening of the political system? What is the appropriate role of external actors in SSR? This article finds that SSR in Arab countries is nascent, largely donor-driven and in most cases occurring in post-conflict situations. However, there is a growing debate on SSR as part of the wider push for ...» more
Iraq’s Interior Ministry: The Key To Police Reform
What progress has been made in reforming Iraq's Ministry of the Interior (MOI) and what remains to be achieved? This report finds that progress has been made within the MOI, but it remains susceptible to changes of leadership and budgetary crises, and to broader administrative weakness within the public sector. Progress should be consolidated and transparency and oversight ...» more
Community Policing in Post-war Mozambique
What has been the impact of community policing in Mozambique? What do local versions of community policing mean for everyday policing practices and police-citizen relations? Based on ethnographic fieldwork, this article examines the implementation of state-initiated community policing in a rural former war-zone. It recommends that community policing in post-war contexts be ...» more
Trading Life, Trading Death: The Flow of Small Arms from Mozambique to Malawi
Do most of Malawi's illegal small arms come from Mozambique? This report finds that there does seem to be a (reduced) inflow of arms from Mozambique used for violent crime. Efforts by the Malawian state to curb small arms proliferation appear to have had little impact, however. Malawi requires more coordinated and better-resourced measures to reduce the inflow of arms, but ...» more
The Legal Challenge of Civil Militia Groups in Kenya
How can national and international justice systems deal with Kenya's civil militias given a crumbling national judicial system, potential complicity by the political elite, difficult economic conditions and escalating violence? This essay argues that the pursuit of an efficient prosecution of Kenya's civil militias could enhance national and international judicial traditions, ...» more
Pastoralists at War: Violence and Security in the Kenya-Sudan-Uganda Border Region
This report reviews the (largely unreported) scale, consequences of, and responses to the increasingly serious pastoral conflicts in the drylands border region of Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda. It concludes that international and domestic actors must recognise the dynamics of these conflicts if arms control and disarmament activities are to generate meaningful outcomes. Improved ...» more
Monitoring and Evaluation Arrangements for the Justice Law and Order Sector in Uganda: A Case Study
What lessons does Uganda's long-running Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) development programme offer in creating workable monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks for justice/law and order programming? A key lesson identified in this report is that indicators should be: high-level and cross-sectoral to encourage holistic thinking; and combined so as to minimise the risk of ...» more
